[Cite as In re C.B., 2019-Ohio-5023.]
COURT OF APPEALS ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
IN RE: C.B., : JUDGES: : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. A MINOR CHILD, : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. : Hon. Earle E. Wise, J. : : : Case No. 2019-COA-009 : : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Court Division, Case No. 20142293
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: December 5, 2019
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
CHRISTOPHER R. TUNNELL ABIGAIL CHRISTOPHER Ashland County Assistant State Public Defender Prosecuting Attorney 250 East Broad Street, Suite 1400 Columbus, Ohio 43215 By: COLE F. OBERLI Assistant Prosecuting Attorney 110 Cottage Street Ashland, Ohio 44805 Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 2
Baldwin, J.
{¶1} C.B. appeals the Ashland County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division’s
decision to classify him as a Tier II Sex Offender. Appellee is the State of Ohio.
STATEMENT OF FACTS AND THE CASE
{¶2} This matter was before this court in In re C.B., 5th Dist. Ashland No. 15-
COA-027, 2016-Ohio-4779, and while we remanded the case for redetermination of
Appellant's Juvenile Offender Registration status, the facts remain unchanged, so we
restate the facts and the case as described within that case.
{¶3} On October 23, 2014, E.O., a nine year-old student in Ashland City Schools,
met with Officer Kim Mager of the Ashland Police Department. Kris Manley, a Principal in
the Ashland City School District, called the Ashland Police Department to report E.O.
alleged she had been the victim of repeated sexual assaults by two neighbors, C.B., and
his brother, M.B.
E.O. Interview with Detective Mager
{¶4} Detective Mager first interviewed E.O. on October 23, 2014, when she was
in the fourth grade. E.O. understood the purpose of the interview was to discuss her
neighbors, C.B. and M.B.
{¶5} E.O. informed Officer Mager M.B., her fifteen year old neighbor, touched
her vaginal area, which she referred to as her “bottom.” E.O. told Officer Mager M.B. and
his brother, C.B., touched her vaginal area behind the shed at the rear of M.B.'s
residence. E.O. related both M.B. and C.B. inserted their fingers inside her vagina on
numerous occasions. E.O. said M.B. digitally penetrated her “five to ten times ... I'm not Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 3
sure, but he does it a lot.” She said the incidents with M.B. almost always ended with his
fingers inside her vagina. She said the incidents always occurred behind the shed.
{¶6} E.O. estimated the incidents began in first grade, about three years prior,
putting her at age six. She averred M.B. and C.B. both touched her vagina on the outside
of her clothes and put their hands up her shirt.
{¶7} E.O. described an incident during which S.B., M.B. and C.B.'s mother,
witnessed M.B. touching her. She stated the incident occurred “right before school
started,” she believes in late August, 2014, when she was playing in the backyard. E.O.
said M.B. told her to “come here,” and while they were trying to “spy” on someone, M.B.
was “touching me with his fingers inside me.” C.B. was “watching to make sure nobody
saw it.” E.O. stated at the same time, S.B. appeared behind the shed and saw her with
her pants and panties down and M.B. sitting in front of her. M.B. had his fingers inside
her. E.O. stated S.B. saw M.B. with his fingers inside her because “I was right there where
she looked and I saw her looking at me.” S.B. yelled at M.B., stating, “That's it! You're
grounded and you can't play with her anymore!
{¶8} E.O. also described incidents during which M.B. and C.B. attempted to take
videos of her with their cell phones while touching her vaginal area.
{¶9} Detective Mager wrote a narrative summarizing her interview with E.O.
C.B. Interview with Lieutenant Icenhour
Initial Interview
{¶10} On October 23, 2014, Lieutenant Joel Icenhour of the Ashland Police
Department met with C.B., a sixteen year-old student at Ashland High School. Assistant
Principal Jon Walter removed C.B. from class and escorted him to his office, where Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 4
Lieutenant Icenhour was waiting. Principal Walter sat behind the desk, while C.B. and
Lieutenant Icenhour sat in two chairs in front of Principal Walter. C.B. was told Lieutenant
Icenhour was there to talk to him, he was not under arrest, he didn't have to talk to him if
he didn't want to, and he was free to leave. Principal Walter did not engage in the
interview, but remained present according to school board policy. C.B. orally consented
to the interview with Lieutenant Icenhour.
{¶11} Lieutenant Icenhour informed C.B. he was at the school to discuss
allegations made by E.O. concerning inappropriate sexual contact with C.B. and M.B.
C.B. denied ever touching E.O., but admitted E.O. would come close to him and “rub up
against him.” He stated M.B. played often with E.O.
{¶12} C.B. became emotionally upset during the interview, again reiterating E.O.
would sometimes get close to him and “rub up against him.” He stated he didn't like it and
would just walk away. He stated she would often walk around showing her underwear.
He repeatedly stated he would never commit this type of offense because he feared the
consequences. He said he would never commit a sex offense as it would impede his
future plans, including going to the military and a career in law enforcement. He also
feared juvenile detention.
{¶13} As the interview concluded, Lieutenant Icenhour told C.B. to take some time
alone before returning to class. Lieutenant Icenhour informed C.B. he intended to
interview his brother, M.B., and may need to speak with him again.
M.B. Interview with Lieutenant Icenhour
{¶14} Lieutenant Icenhour then interviewed M.B. M.B. stated his date of birth was
September 28, 1999. Lieutenant Icenhour told M.B. he had come to the high school to Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 5
discuss statements made by E.O. M.B. indicated he knew E.O., she was his neighbor,
and he knew her age. He stated they were friends, and often played together, until he
was told he should not be playing with her because he was “in high school.”
{¶15} M.B. initially denied sexual conduct with E.O., but eventually admitted to
touching E.O.'s vaginal area behind the shed. M.B. said C.B. acted as the look-out playing
basketball in front of the shed, while he engaged in the touching. He denied C.B. ever
witnessed him touching E.O.
{¶16} When asked about C.B.'s role in the conduct, M.B. initially indicated he
knew nothing about any of the incidents, but then described his role as the “undergoer”
or “side operation.” He stated E.O. told him C.B. touched her, but he did not talk to C.B.
about the incidents.
{¶17} M.B. guessed C.B. engaged in touching E.O. “five or six times” based on
the accounts E.O. related to him.
C.B. Second Interview with Lieutenant Icenhour
{¶18} Following his interview with M.B., Lieutenant Icenhour then called C.B. back
to the interview room. He informed C.B. he had talked to M.B. and M.B. had indicated
C.B. had a role in M.B.'s conduct with E.O., and M.B. had indicated C.B. had himself
engaged in touching E.O. C.B. again denied the touching.
{¶19} Lieutenant Icenhour engaged C.B. in further conversation, explaining the
situation to C.B. and his experience as a law enforcement investigator. C.B. then admitted
to touching E.O. during a walk at the Church of God. C.B. claimed E.O. “rubbed up against
him.” He then admitted he stuck his finger inside her vagina and put his hands down her
pants. C.B. claimed to have stopped because it “felt weird” and “people can go to jail for Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 6
that.” C.B. initially stated he was fifteen years-old at the time the incident occurred. He
later stated, the sexual conduct had not occurred for three years, and he believed he was
thirteen years of age at the time.
{¶20} C.B. maintained the sexual conduct was not a continuing course of conduct,
and had not happened again for three years. He denied the occurrence of a second
incident.
{¶21} After Lieutenant Icenhour discussed the situation with C.B., C.B. was
eventually sent to a period of “chill out time” and then back to class.
{¶22} C.B. was charged by complaint filed in the Ashland County Court of
Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, on October 30, 2014. The complaint alleged C.B.
delinquent of one count of Rape, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), a felony of the first
degree, if committed by an adult.
{¶23} On December 26, 2014, C.B. filed a Motion to Suppress all the statements
made to Lieutenant Icenhour on October 23, 2014 at Ashland High School. The State
filed a memorandum in opposition to the motion to suppress on January 8, 2015.
{¶24} The trial court conducted a hearing on the motion to suppress on January
14, 2015. C.B. did not testify at the suppression hearing. Via Opinion and Judgment Entry
of January 27, 2015, the trial court overruled C.B.'s motion to suppress.
{¶25} The State filed an Amended Complaint on February 19, 2015. The
Amended Complaint alleged C.B. to be delinquent of: Count 1. Rape, in violation of R.C.
2907.02(A)(1)(b); Count 2. Rape, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b); Count 3. Gross
Sexual Imposition, in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4); Count 4. Gross Sexual Imposition,
in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4). Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 7
{¶26} The Amended Complaint alleged the offenses occurred between March 11,
2011, and October 21, 2014.
{¶27} On May 29, 2015, the State filed an Evidence Rule 807 Notice pertaining to
statements made by E.O. at Ashland City Schools to Detective Kimberly Mager. The
Notice stated, in the event E.O. could not, refused or claimed lack of memory about events
charged, the State intended to introduce the testimony of Detective Mager in regards to
the victim's statements about the events.
Adjudication
{¶28} The matter proceeded to an Adjudication Hearing on June 9, 2015. At the
adjudication hearing, E.O. testified C.B. walked her home from the Church of God, which
was three houses down from her home. She testified it was during summer, but she could
not recall what year it occurred. She recalled the two sat down on the ground and he
touched her “bottom,” which she explained meant her vaginal area. She said his hands
went underneath her clothes, touching her skin, and his fingers went inside her vagina.
She indicated it felt “bruised” when his fingers were inside. She claimed he put his phone
close to her pants when he did it.
{¶29} When asked if C.B. had touched her another time, E.O. said he had touched
her at Toppers, a haircut place close to her house. She also could not remember when
this had occurred. She claimed the incident was just like the incident at Church of God
when C.B. put his finger inside her vagina. She indicated the feeling of bruising as feeling
the same.
{¶30} Lieutenant Joel Icenhour of the Ashland Police Department testified at the
adjudication hearing as to his interview with C.B. at Ashland High School: Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 8
Q. Can you describe for the Court [C.B.'s] statements to you about the
incident that you were investigating?
A. Well, he was very evasive to begin with, and as the interview went on,
he eventually admitted, at one time we were talking about [E.O.] and he
admitted to touching her privates one time, putting his hand down her pants
and inserting the tip of his finger into her vaginal cavity, and he gave a
variance of ages of when it occurred.
At one point he said around age 15, earlier in a[sic] interview he said 14 to
15, and then he said throughout age 13, previous to that, which to me
indicated that was probably more than a one time incident and–––
***
A. From there, he described it as the incident, the one that he admitted to
of walking [E.O.] around the building, the Church of God, and [E.O.] kept
brushing up against him and rubbing into him, he mentioned at one point it
was at a spot at the Church of God that nobody could see, and I talked
about the consistency of this going on, and he got upset at that point and
he said none of this inconsistent [sic] crap, and he said it was one time.
And I said, was it one time that you put your had down her pants and
inserted your finger into her vagina, and he said, yes, that was just one time,
and reiterated, and there was nothing with that consistency like it was an on
going situation.
Adjudication Hearing, Tr. at 104–105.
{¶31} Lieutenant Icenhour continued in his testimony: Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 9
BY MS. BATES:
Q As far as the time period that you talked to C.B. about, you said that he
stated that he was about 14 or 15, does that sound right?
A Yeah, he gave different statements about a couple years ago, and he
mentioned age 13, and then mentioned age 14 to 15 and then 15, so.
Adjudication Hearing, Tr. at 111–112.
{¶32} Detective Kimberly Mager testified as to her interview with E.O. She testified
as to E.O.'s allegations, but did not provide information as to the incidents at Church of
God or at Toppers. She did not provide dates or a time frame as to when the events
occurred.
{¶33} C.B. testified on his own behalf at the adjudication hearing. At the hearing,
C.B. denied touching E.O. sexually. When asked why he had told Lieutenant Icenhour he
had touched E.O. once, C.B. testified he felt like he was being broken down and was tired
of being drilled. He also stated he thought admission to the behavior would get him out of
the office.
Adjudication of Delinquency and Classification
{¶34} Via Judgment Entry of June 12, 2015, the trial court adjudicated C.B.
delinquent of two counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition.
{¶35} The trial court conducted a dispositional hearing on July 16, 2015, and via
Judgment Entry of the same date the trial court entered disposition. The trial court merged
the two counts of gross sexual imposition finding the offenses allied offenses of similar
import with the two counts of rape as the offenses did not have a separate animus; Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 10
therefore, the trial court did not enter a separate dispositional order with regard to the two
counts of gross sexual imposition.
{¶36} As to the first count of rape, the trial court committed C.B. to the Ohio
Department of Youth Services (“ODYS”) for institutionalization in a secure facility for an
indefinite term consisting of a minimum period of two years and a maximum period not to
exceed his attainment of the age of twenty-one years.
{¶37} As to the second offense of rape, the trial court committed C.B. to ODYS
for institutionalization in a secure facility for an indefinite term consisting of a minimum
period of one year and a maximum period not to exceed his attainment of the age of
twenty one years.
{¶38} The trial court ordered the sentences on Counts One and Two to run
consecutively.
{¶39} Via Judgment Entry of July 28, 2015, the trial court classified C.B. a Tier III
Juvenile Offender Registrant. The trial court's entry states:
2) The Court finds that the offenses of Rape, in violation of Section
2907.02(A)(1)(b) of the Ohio Revised Code, are Tier III sexually oriented
offenses as defined by statute. The Court further recognizes and finds,
however that under present Ohio law while classification may be mandatory
the Tier upon which the juvenile is placed is discretionary with the Court and
the Court has the discretion to classify the juvenile pursuant to whatever
Tier the Court determines to be appropriate in this case. The Court finds no
basis in the evidence or any of the material received by the Court to classify
the juvenile at the present time in any Tier other than as noted above. Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 11
3) The Court does hereby classify [C.B.] a Tier III Sex Offender. (Emphasis
added.)
{¶40} The Appellant filed an appeal and submitted five assignments of error. We
overruled four of the assignments of error and with regard to the Appellant's Third
Assignment of Error which claimed "THE JUVENILE COURT ERRED WHEN IT
CLASSIFIED C.B. AS A JUVENILE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRANT BECAUSE THE
RECORD DID NOT ESTABLISH THAT HE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION.
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION; OHIO CONSTITUTION,
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 16" we held that:
However, the trial court's Judgment Entry states “The Court further
recognizes and finds, however, that under Ohio law while classification may
be mandatory, the Tier upon which the juvenile is placed is discretionary
with the Court and the Court ...” The trial court seemed to look to the offense
of Rape as a Tier III offense. At the adjudication hearing herein, C.B.
testified at one point he was 15 years old at the time of the offense, and at
another point he states he was 14 or 15, and another time he states he was
13. Therefore, the trial court had discretion as to whether to classify C.B. a
JOR subject to registration and the trial court erred in finding classification
mandatory. See, In Re: D.S., 5th Dist. 13 CA 58, 2014 Ohio 867.
In re C.B., 5th Dist. Ashland No. 15-COA-027, 2016-Ohio-4779, ¶ 89, fn. omitted.
{¶41} We remanded the case for "redetermination of Appellant's JOR status. Id.
at ¶ 105. Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 12
{¶42} The trial court conducted a hearing pursuant to R.C. 2152.83 to redetermine
Appellant's Juvenile Offender Registration Status as directed by this court. Appellant
contended that the evidence presented at the adjudication was insufficient to establish
his age and thus his eligibility for registration and suggested a continuance to allow
Appellee to obtain and present evidence regarding that issue. The Appellee declined the
offer, contending the age of Appellant was resolved at the adjudicatory stage and that no
additional evidence was necessary
{¶43} The Appellant presented the testimony of Dee Pendlebury, Appellant's
parole officer. She informed the court that Appellant remained in DYS custody because
he had refused to participate in court-ordered sex offender treatment. (Sex Offender
Classification Hearing Transcript, p. 24), but otherwise noted that Appellant behaved very
well. Appellant scored as a low risk to reoffend on the Ohio Youth Offender System Risk
Assessment Tool (OYAS) without completing sex offender treatment. Appellant has
strong family support, does not use drugs or alcohol, and did not exhibit negative
behaviors while in DYS. Further, C.B. graduated high school and completed classes
through the Ashland College program while in DYS custody.
{¶44} The Trial Court noted, in the preamble of its entry that all parties were
present at the hearing and had the opportunity to present evidence and argument.
Exhibits were offered at the hearing and the trial court notified the parties that it would
"take judicial notice of all prior proceedings in this case and the entire file, which includes
all evidence presented at several hearings conducted in this case, as well as reports
prepared and filed with the court."(Opinion and Judgment Entry, March 6, 2019, Docket
# 20, p. 1). Within that entry, the trial court summarizes the history of the case and notes Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 13
prior to the aforementioned appeal, it had found that appellant "was subject to a
classification hearing and subject to classification pursuant to Section 2152.83 of the Ohio
Revised Code.”
{¶45} The trial court reviewed Appellant's behavior while confined at the Ohio
Department of Youth Services and found that Appellant:
has been an exemplary resident at any facility in which he was placed. He
has completed all other programs in which he was placed. He has
completed school; he enrolled in the college program at the Ohio
Department of Youth Services; and has completed nearly two years of
college work. He has not violated rules and regulations at the facility. He
has, to the contrary, followed all rules; he has worked regularly, including
outside the facility; he has completed risk assessments, including the
OYAS; and has always scored as a low risk to recidivate. In short, he has
successfully completed all things asked of him except completing the sex
offender program.
(Opinion and Judgment Entry, March 6, 2019, Docket # 20, p. 4).
{¶46} The sex offender program was a court ordered program that Appellant
refused to complete, as he continued to maintain his innocence. This refusal concerned
the trial court, which noted that Appellant "is not taking responsibility for his actions and
has not indicated any understanding of the wrongfulness of his actions. He has also
expressed no remorse for his conduct, again maintaining that he had done nothing wrong
and that he had not committed any of the acts with which he was charged and upon which
he was adjudicated." (Opinion and Judgment Entry, March 6, 2019, p. 4). Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 14
{¶47} The trial court then reviewed the factors set forth in R.C. 2152.83(D) and/or
(E), acknowledged that it has considered the factors of R.C. 2950.11(K) and R.C.
2929.12(B) and (C) and the results of any treatment provided or any follow up professional
assessments. The trial court noted again the Appellant's refusal to participate in a sex
{¶48} The trial court then described its discretionary authority and concluded that
Appellant is eligible to be classified and found that it was appropriate to classify him a Tier
II sex offender, one tier lower than his classification prior to the initial appeal.
{¶49} Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal and submitted two assignments of
error:
{¶50} “I. THE JUVENILE COURT VIOLATED C.B.'S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS
BECAUSE THE STATE FAILED TO ESTABLISH THAT C.B. WAS AT LEAST 14 YEARS
OLD AT THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENSE; THEREFORE, C.B. WAS NOT AGE
ELIGIBLE FOR CLASSIFICATION, IN VIOLATION OF FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENTS TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION; ARTICLE I, SECTION 16, OHIO
CONSTITUTION; AND R.C. 2152.83.”
{¶51} “II. THE COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT CLASSIFIED C.B.
AS A TIER II SEX OFFENDER INSTEAD OF A TIER I SEX OFFENDER UNDER R.C.
2152.83.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶52} Appellant's first assignment of error attacks the sufficiency of the evidence,
so our review for that issue is provided by State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d
492 (1991). When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court does not Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 15
ask whether the evidence should be believed. “The relevant inquiry is whether, after
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of
fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable
doubt.” Id. at paragraph two of the syllabus. State v. Poutney, 153 Ohio St.3d 474, 2018-
Ohio-22, 97 N.E.3d 478, ¶19.
{¶53} We review the trial court’s decision regarding the second assignment of
error for abuse of discretion. We must examine the entire record and determine whether
there is sufficient competent and credible evidence to support the judgment rendered by
the trial court. Seasons Coal Company v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d
1273 (1978). Trickey v. Trickey, 158 Ohio St. 9, 13, 106 N.E.2d 772 (1952). The trial court
must resolve disputed issues of fact and weigh the testimony and credibility of the
witnesses. Bechtol v. Bechtol, 49 Ohio St.3d 21, 23, 550 N.E.2d 178 (1990). We defer to
the trial court's discretion because the trial court had the opportunity to observe the
witnesses and parties in weighing the credibility of the proffered testimony in a way a
reviewing court cannot.
{¶54} The Supreme Court has defined the term abuse of discretion as
demonstrating the trial court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.
Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983). Further, if the
evidence is susceptible of more than one construction, we must give it that interpretation
which is consistent with the verdict and judgment, most favorable to sustaining the
juvenile court's verdict and judgment. In the Matter of: M.D. & A.D. (D.D., Defendant-
Appellant), 10th Dist. Franklin Nos. 2019-Ohio-3674, ¶¶ 32-33. Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 16
{¶55} We will not “disturb a verdict on appeal on sufficiency grounds unless
‘reasonable minds could not reach the conclusion reached by the trier-of-fact.’ ” State v.
Ketterer, 111 Ohio St.3d 70, 2006-Ohio-5283, 855 N.E.2d 48, ¶ 94, quoting State v.
Dennis, 79 Ohio St.3d 421, 430, 683 N.E.2d 1096 (1997).
ANALYSIS
{¶56} In his first assignment of error, Appellant contends the evidence before the
Court does not support a conclusion that he was at least fourteen years of age at the time
any of the offenses were committed. This argument attacks the sufficiency of the
evidence, but we find that this matter has been previously presented to the trial court,
decided and subject to appeal and thus further consideration is barred by the doctrine of
issue preclusion.
{¶57} The doctrine of collateral estoppel or issue preclusion “holds that a fact or
a point that was actually and directly at issue in a previous action, and was *** passed
upon and determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, may not be drawn into question
in a subsequent action between the same parties or their privies, whether the cause of
action in the two actions be identical or different.” Fort Frye Teachers Assn., OEA/NEA v.
State Emp. Relations Bd., 81 Ohio St.3d 392, 395, 692 N.E.2d 140 (1998); see also
Norwood v. McDonald, 142 Ohio St. 299, 27 O.O. 240, 52 N.E.2d 67(1943), paragraph
three of the syllabus. Essentially, collateral estoppel prevents parties from relitigating
facts and issues that were fully litigated in a previous case. State ex rel. Shemo v. Mayfield
Hts., 95 Ohio St.3d 59, 64, 765 N.E.2d 345 (2002). However, in order for the doctrine to
apply, the issues must have been determined by a final, appealable order. State v. Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 17
Williams, 76 Ohio St.3d 290, 294, 667 N.E.2d 932 (1996). Anderson v. Eyman, 180 Ohio
App.3d 794, 2009-Ohio-102, 907 N.E.2d 730, ¶ 28 (5th Dist).
{¶58} In the case sub judice, the trial court initially classified Appellant as a Tier
III Juvenile Offender Registrant after concluding that the Appellant was at least fifteen
years of age at the time of the commission of the offenses. (Opinion and Judgment
Entry, July 28, 2015, Docket # 9, p. 4). Appellant appealed the decision asserting as part
of his third assignment of error that "the trial court erred in classifying him a Juvenile
Offender Registrant/Tier III Sex Offender as the record does not establish he is age
eligible for registration." In re C.B., 5th Dist. Ashland No. 15-COA-027, 2016-Ohio-4779,
¶ 82. In that case we noted that "The trial court found C.B. was either fifteen or sixteen
years of age at the time of the commission of the offenses." Id. While we remanded the
case to the trial court because we held that the trial court misunderstood the breadth of
its discretion to classify Appellant as a juvenile offender registrant, we affirmed the trial
court's factual finding that Appellant was fifteen or sixteen when the offenses were
committed when we held that " [t]herefore, the trial court had discretion as to whether to
classify C.B. a JOR subject to registration and the trial court erred in finding classification
mandatory." In re C.B., 5th Dist. Ashland No. 15-COA-027, 2016-Ohio-4779, ¶ 89. If the
record had contained insufficient evidence to establish the Appellant was age eligible, we
would have concluded that the trial court had no discretion to classify Appellant eligible
for classification.
{¶59} Appellant’s first assignment of error includes the same age eligibility issue
raised in the third assignment of error in his prior appeal. The parties are identical, no
new facts have been introduced and there has been no intervening change in the law. Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 18
The trial court issued a final appealable order regarding this issue, the appellant asserted
in his appeal that the record did not support a finding that he was age eligible for
classification under R.C. 2152.83 and this court rejected his appeal. These facts lead to
the inexorable conclusion that this assignment is barred by the doctrine of collateral
estoppel.
{¶60} Because Appellant had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue of his
age in the prior appeal and the hearings preceding that appeal, and because a final
appealable order was issued and affirmed, we hold that the first assignment of error is
barred by the doctrine of issue preclusion.
{¶61} Appellant's second assignment of error purports to assert that the trial court
abused its discretion by classifying him as a Tier II Juvenile Offender Registrant, but the
argument offered in support focuses upon the rational for R.C. 2152.83 and fails to
address how the trial court abused its discretion in the context of the statute.
{¶62} Much of Appellant's argument is directed toward "the psychological damage
and social stigmas that exist when a child is placed on the sex offender registration” and
makes reference to a study that is not part of the record in the underlying case. His
argument focuses upon the rational and impact of the statute and is a legislative and not
a judicial matter. The trial court and this court are bound to apply the law as drafted within
constitutional boundaries, so we are unable to consider much of Appellant's argument.
To the extent that we can consider his assertions regarding the trial court's exercise of
discretion, we find appellant's argument unsupported by the record.
{¶63} The trial court provided a detailed recitation of the facts, documents and law
considered, and did not overlook Appellant's positive attributes, but included those in its Ashland County, Case No. 2019-COA-009 19
analysis. The trial court made express reference to all the elements that were considered
in its analysis and expressed concern that Appellant steadfastly refused to comply with
its order to complete a sex offender class, holding stubbornly to his declaration of
innocence. Appellant's release from confinement was delayed as a result of his behavior
and this fact was considered by the Court when it classified him as a Tier II offender and
not a Tier III offender, which was the initial classification.
{¶64} We have reviewed the record and we cannot find support for a conclusion
that the trial court's decision was arbitrary, unreasonable or unconscionable. The trial
court completed a careful analysis of the facts in the record and the applicable law and
we will not substitute our judgment for that of the trial judge. Berk v. Matthews, 53 Ohio
St.3d 161, 559 N.E.2d 1301, 1308 (1990).
{¶65} The Appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶66} The decision of the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile
Division is affirmed.
By: Baldwin, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Wise, Earle, J. concur.